Violence against women and children is the most prevalent human rights violation
globally — and this violence teaches children it’s OK, even moral, to use force to impose
one’s will.

The core common theme that I see within my hair pulling student’s childhood stories is one of an out of balance (and often out of control) power dynamic within the family. We must begin to understand that the way our culture, and consequently the family, views and handles power is at the very core of the rising numbers of trichotillomania sufferers.

Hair pullers are very sensitive to imbalances of power and they use their compulsive behavior to regulate their emotional reactions to issues around power.

The next time you find yourself on a hair pulling jag take a look to see if either of these scenarios fit. Even subtle situations apply:

  1. Do you feel that someone else inappropriately bullied or belittled you in some way and you felt unable to stand up for yourself?Some time spent hair pulling helps you to regulate and manage your feelings of worthlessness.
  2. Did you verbally or physically bully someone else?Hair pulling helps you to regulate and manage your feelings of guilt and shame over your own inappropriate behavior.